New Image from THE HUNGER GAMES Features Suited-Up Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson

A new image from Gary Ross’ adaptation of The Hunger Games has gone online. The pic features Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson suited-up in their training gear as they prepare for the Hunger Games—a televised fight to the death between teenagers from each district in Panem. Two “tributes” from each district are chosen to compete, and Lawrence and Hutcherson star as Katniss and Peeta, the tributes from District 12. Matt, Brendan, Dave and I all chose the film as one of our most anticipated from the first quarter of 2012, and I’m really hoping Ross delivers on this feature film adaptation of the first book in Suzanne Collins’ wildly entertaining trilogy.

Hit the jump to check out the image. The film also stars Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland. The Hunger Games opens March 23rd.

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 16 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following.